Take Me Home: The John Denver Story

After both reading and listening to John's autobiography in his own words, it's pretty clear that much of the movie is inaccurate to say the least and seemed to take on the counter story of Annie Denver. Many details were different from the book and many things left out. John was made to look 'goofy' which is not ever, at any time, the way I've ever perceived him to be. I grew up with John...I listened to his music and the words that he spoke; truth being, he was a deep, thoughtful individual who at his worst was just human. I believe too that he did accept responsibility for his own screw-ups...although that part was more closely relayed in this movie than other issues. I would love to see someone really come along a do a great mini-series on John. After all, how can you sum up this wonderful person in just a couple of hours. I have to say that I still miss him and think he was taken way too soon; and for those people who didn't care or understand who John was, all I can say is this movie isn't going to help much. Most of all, I'm sorry that you missed out on such a great person who has done more than any one person I know personally.

While this account, from a creative standpoint, could have done more justice to John Denver, the events and places as they transpired provided a fairly true-to-life story of John's legacy. Chad Lowe was seemingly unfit to play the part of John Denver, as the mannerisms and lip-sync attempts were modest at best. The shining star of the production was Kristin Davis as Annie Denver. My biggest regret is that the sequences were filmed in Canada and not in John's hometown (and mine) of Aspen, Colorado. Additionally, two hours is not nearly enough time to chronicle the beautiful life of this artist.

Chad Lowe is simply awful. The lip synching he does for the songs is almost funny. He has never been a very effective actor but this performance wouldn't even get noticed in a high school competition. One has to wonder how he got this gig.

The other actors and actresses in the movie do a good job but no one stands out. The worst part about Chad Lowe's performance is that it is so bad that it overshadows the effort of every other performer.

The story of John Denver is a compelling and interesting one. Unfortunately, this movie does almost nothing to capitalize on it. Chad Lowe seems like he is lampooning John Denver on Saturday Night Live. It would be funny if he weren't trying to be serious.

While the movie touched on some very basic parts of John Denver's life as listed in his autobiography, it seemed to be more about Annie Denver than about John. The actor portraying John Denver made him look simple-minded and shallow - NOT the personality I've observed for two decades at concerts and at televised interviews!

I like John Denver's music and, ultimately, that was the only thing I liked about this film. Chad Lowe, though a fine actor, I thought was miscast. Not once in the entire film could I "suspend disbelief" and buy him as Denver, especially in John's later years when his 2 older children were teens/young adults and John was 50-ish. Lowe looked even younger than his own 32 years; never mind portraying the 50-ish father of 2 teenagers!

I also found the writing/dialogue to be stale and cliched and scenes/events oftentimes rushed, packing zero emotion. It was more like watching actors do re-enactments on those biography shows than a film.